Normandin



(Model.)

BFNORMANDIN.

BRUSH.

Patented Nov.

UNITED STATES PATENT @TTTe-ia.

BENJAMIN NORMANDIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BRUSH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,427, dated November25, 1884. Application filed December 17, 1883. (Model) To all whom, itmay concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN N ORMANDIN, of the city and county of SanFrancisco, and State of California, have invented an Improve ment inBrushes; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description thereof.

My invention relates to the class of brushes used for clothes, hats,&c.; and it consists of a brush, as a new article of manufacture, the.

rubbing or frictional surface of which is made of the bark of that genusof tree known as Sequoia, as I shall more fully explain.

The object of my invention is to provide a brush for cleaning clothes,hats, and similar articles, or for use as a flesh-brush, or any otheruse to which the material of the brush is well adapted.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective viewof my brush, showing the softer or velvety surface. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of one of the strips or slabs of which my brush iscomposed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a rougher surface. Fig. 4is a perspective of theinstrument which I employ in making suitablesurfaces by separating or cutting the fiber.

A is the frame of the brush, which may be made in any suitable manner,to inclose, e11- circle, or serve as a handle for the material, B,composing the body of the brush.

On the western coast of the United States, and especially in the Stateof California, are trees commonly known as redwood and big trees. Thesebelong to the genus Sequoia, of the sub-order Guprcssinecc, the redwoodbeing a species of this genus named Sempcrvirens, and the big treesbeing the only other species, and named Giganiea. In both of these thebark is very similar, possessing the same characteristics, and adaptedto be applied to similar purposes; but on account of the vastly greaternumber of the species Sequoia scmpcrvirens its bark is more readilyobtainable, and therefore is the most applicable to my presentinvention. The bark of the redwood is of a peculiarly fibrous nature, ofa rich cinnamon-brown color, and of a thickness proportionate to that ofthe wood, which fact, as the trees grow to an immense diameter, rendersit easy to obtain masses of bark of suitable dimensions for my purpose.\Vhen cut and manipulated as I shall explain, the ends of the fiber areseparated, and are soft and velvety, being yet tough enough to wear wellunder friction, and pliable or yielding enough to serve the purpose of abrush. Its density makes it very effective for cloth, and its softnessrenders it peculiarly adapted foruse as a silk or flesh brush. Its colormakes that it will retain its new appearance'a long time. The barkunprepared is too dense for a proper brushing-surface, but the fibersare readily separable. Though a single block might have its surfaceprepared,it would take too long, and could not be finished to the bestadvantage; therefore I make the body 13 of or strips, 1), one of whichis shown in detail in Fig. 2. These are easily cut from the main block,and are to have superficial dimensions requisite for the particularbrush. I take each slab or strip, and laying its edge on a suitablesurface-such as a tableI hammer it on both sides to a depth equal towhatever length of bristles I desire the fiber to make. This length mayof course be varied according to the charactor of the brush and the usefor which it may be intended. I continue the hammering until the fibersyield and become pliable enough to be bent forward and backloy hand orother rubbing under pressure. In this condition, the fibers beingseparated into minute hairs, soft and pliable, I take all the strips andsecure them together in any manner-as by gluingand bind them tightly bya suita- '"ble frame, such as A, thus forming a brush of required size.After this, in order to smooth the surface and make it soft and velvety,such as indicated in Fig. 1, I go over itwith a small metal blade havinga serrated edge, such as shown in Fig. 4. This completes the looseningof the fibers and makes the surface as velvety and soft as possible,resembling plush, having a long pile, with a fine silky appearancepeculiar to the bark of the redwood.

In Fig. 3 I show a slightly-modified surface for rougher use. This iscut or sawed longitudinally and transversely in grooves or cuts, forminga number of points which take better hold; and in making this surface Ido not my brush of a number of thin separate slabs v it attractive andprevents obvious soiling, so

0 making of brushes from the bark of separate the fiber so much, leavingit harder and rougher. Of course it could be given other surfacessuitable for different brushes and uses, and under any preparation itsfiber is sufficiently tenacious to hold well together, no matter how outor grooved.

I am aware that brushes have been made from the bark of the basswood andother trees, and I therefore do not claim, broadly, the trees as myinvention, but confine myself to the bark taken from the genus Sequoiagigantea, which, as before stated, possesses peculiar qualities,specially adapting it, on account of its fine fiber and glossy and silkyappearance, for clothes and other brushes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

A brush made of the bark of the redwood 2o 'hand.

BENJAMIN NORMANDIN.

WVitnesses:

O. D. CoLE, J. H. BLooD.

